Jennie Muzyk, president of the Adult
Social Club of New Britain, described Dr. J. Antonelle DeMarcaida,
who gave a speech to the club on Parkinson's Disease in
September, as "the best speaker ever."

Thea Middleton, acting director of
the Salvation Army Senior Center in Farmington, wrote to thank the
Health Center for a presentation by Dr. Syed Zaidi. "The
'Silent Signs of Stroke' seminar ... was wonderful,"
she wrote. "The seniors really appreciated the
question-and-answer period. Many of them mentioned that Dr. Zaidi
was very patient and thorough in responding to their
questions."

The recently revived speakers bureau
has a burgeoning collection of speakers, a growing list of dates,
and increasing interest from social, civic, fraternal, and business
groups.

"It's a wonderful way to
connect with the community," says Maureen McGuire, manager of
clinical marketing. "There's always a need in the
community for good health information and we have the experts and
expertise to supply it. It's a great opportunity for us to
learn what's on people's minds in terms of healthcare, but
also for them to learn about the scope of services at the Health
Center."

Since Oct. 1, faculty and staff have
spoken at eight locations, from Fairfield to Wethersfield to
Hartford to Farmington, on such topics as smoking prevention,
hormone replacement therapy, breast cancer, complementary medicine,
healthy aging, and nutrition and osteoporosis. Church groups and
seniors have scheduled engagements, but so too have law firms and
businesses.

"Our faculty is committed to
education," says Zarfos. "Not only the education of
medical and dental students, but the education of the community. We
have a responsibility to equip them with the facts and empower them
to be an effective part of their own health care."

Dr. Joseph Walsh, associate
professor and an ob-gyn specialist with UConn Health Partners,
spoke about hormone replacement therapy to an audience of 50 at
Fleet Bank in Hartford on Oct. 8.

"It's important to address
the community," he says, "it helps fulfill our
educational mission. As the state's medical school, we have an
obligation not only to our students but also to the people of the
state and the community at large. It's always a good feeling to
educate people and help them resolve issues that are current, such
as hormone replacement therapy and what to do about
it."

Program coordinator Terri Cavo says
the speakers bureau is an outreach initiative similar to the
Discovery Series, the annual series of lectures showcasing the
Health Center's clinical programs. Like giving one of the
Discovery lectures, participating in the speakers bureau is an act
of commitment because it is time-consumin g and the rewards are
limited to earnest thanks from the audience and a well-deserved
sense of personal gratification.

"The faculty participating are
interested in performing a service for the community," she
says. "It is a complimentary service. They do it on their own
time and are not compensated for it. But it is a great way of
informing the public of medical advances and all the many things we
offer at the Health Center."

Adds Zarfos: "For me
personally, we've hit a home run if my talk stimulates a person
to obtain a mammogram, start an exercise program, or change their
diet overall. It's just that simple."